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Simply Believe

Watering the Tulips

October 30, 2013

“And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household’” – Acts 16:30-31

The Philippian jailor asked the most important question of all time. This man had guarded the cell and heard Paul and Silas “praying and singing hymns” along with all of the prisoners (Acts 16:25). Without doubt, the Holy Spirit had convicted this man that he was a sinner in need of a place of refuge from the wrath of God. In despair, he asked Paul and Silas, “what must I do to be saved?” His concern certainly was not for his physical life. Paul and Silas gave him an answer that would have put his physical life at jeopardy, as it had theirs. His concern was a spiritual one. He desired to be saved from his sins. Simply, they responded, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…”. The question of the ages was answered with a simple answer.

The answer to this question certainly varies from person to person and congregation to congregation these days. Some may say, “this man was already saved”. Yet, this man clearly realized he was “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). He desired to be delivered from his sins and the penalty of them. Some may say, “Belief is not enough for even the devil and his angels believe”. But oh, Jesus didn’t die for angels. He died for humans. He is our Kinsman Redeemer. And furthermore, this Scripture clearly says otherwise – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved”. There is no place for doubt. “You will be saved”.

Jesus said as much when talking with Nicodemus. He said, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). Simply, the believer is saved and the unbeliever is lost. This simple truth can never be contracted by deeper “truths”. If it is, our deeper “truths” are wrong. As in math, 2+2=4 no matter how deep the math may go. So, no matter how deep the doctrine may be, the simple truths in God’s Word always remain true. The believer is saved…the unbeliever is condemned.

Why is the unbeliever condemned? Simply, he refuses God’s “door” by which the sheep must enter. Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10 9). God’s gift to mankind is salvation through the finished work of Christ on the cross. He is the door into fellowship with God. And yet, man in his natural state constantly shakes his fist at God and His way and strives to get to Heaven some other route. Man naturally seeks to find God through the broad way that “leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13). But, Paul and Silas pointed this man to the “narrow gate” which most refuse to enter. In fact, Jesus said “there are few who find…the way which leads to life”(Matthew 7:14).

Child of God, this world is full of condemned souls that refuse God’s Way. Men are striving to find harmony with God in every way except through God’s prescribed manner. Works and ceremonial religion are man’s natural inclinations. Yet, God’s Way is simple – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”. Oh, that we will not corrupt “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Watering the Tulips is brought to you by Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Northport. For more information, please visit www.sovereigngrace.net. “Your App to the Gospel” is available on iTunes, Google Play and the Windows Phone Marketplace. Please download it today.